BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Croatia 1-4 England Croatia 1-4 England Walcott celebrates completing his hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb By Jonathan Stevenson Theo Walcott hit a stunning hat-trick as England thrashed Croatia in a World Cup qualifying tie in Zagreb. The 19-year-old got the nod to start ahead of David Beckham and he drilled England ahead, before Robert Kovac was sent off for an elbow on Joe Cole. Walcott grabbed a carbon-copy second and soon after the exceptional Wayne Rooney slotted in a brilliant third. Mario Mandzukic notched a consolation for Croatia, before Walcott collected Rooney's pass and rolled in his third. It was a magnificent performance and more than coach Fabio Capello can have dreamed of. Terry hails awesome Walcott The result puts England firmly in control of Group Six after two wins in five days, but Capello will be even more delighted by the manner of his team's triumph. Croatia suffered their first competitive defeat at home and it was sweet revenge for England, beating the team that ended their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.

It was a far cry from England's limp displays under Steve McClaren and they were far superior in every department. In the wonderful Walcott, they had a player who frightened the life out of the hosts whenever he got the ball. 606: DEBATE I can't believe I'm saying this, but what a GREAT performance by England kingjoehanlon The Arsenal winger gave the ball away with his first involvement, but from then on everything he touched seemed to turn to goals as he wreaked havoc down the right flank. With Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard dominating in midfield and Rooney linking play up between the midfield and Emile Heskey, England pinned Croatia back into their own half from the start. After Heskey had a decent shout for a penalty waved away, Walcott put England in front with his first goal for his country. There was a stroke of fortune about it as Danijel Pranjic's clearance cannoned straight into Robert Kovac and when the ball fell to Walcott inside the box on the right, he lashed it into the bottom corner.

A minute later Walcott's cross-shot from a similar position was touched behind by keeper Stipe Pletikosa, before Josip Simunic was booked for a cynical foul as Walcott's pace terrorised Croatia once more. The only disappointment for England was a head injury to Joe Cole Eight minutes after the break Croatia suffered a hammer blow when Robert Kovac went up for a challenge with Joe Cole and appeared to lead with his elbow, causing the Chelsea midfielder to bleed from a wound on his head. Kovac was rightly sent off and Cole had to be stretchered off, but six minutes later England went 2-0 ahead when the sublime Rooney - enjoying a glorious return to form wearing the three lions - beautifully teed up Walcott to smash in his second. England were rampant, and Jermaine Jenas scampered away down the left and pulled the ball back for Rooney to open up his body and direct the ball into the corner. It was like watching England at their Euro 96 best as they passed the ball around with devastating accuracy and Lampard was cruelly denied a goal after another gorgeous team move when his goal was ruled out for a foul committed by Heskey.

Croatia were all over the place, but they managed a consolation when Darijo Srna broke and he fed Mandzukic to drive the ball under David James. It's all smiles in the dressing room - Walcott England were not done, though, and Rooney turned provider once more to slip Walcott in on goal, the former Southampton star racing through and keeping his head to slot under Pletikosa to complete his treble. In doing so he became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England, and the first in a competitive game for England since Michael Owen bagged three against Germany in the 5-1 win in Munich in 2001. Capello's men can be every bit as pleased with this result in the cauldron of the Maksimir Stadium. Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric (Knezevic 56), Nico Kovac (Pokrivac 62), Srna, Modric, Olic (Mandzukic 73). Subs Not Used: Runje, Krizanac, Leko, Klasnic.

Sent Off: Robert Kovac (53). Booked: Simunic, Srna. Goals: Mandzukic 78. England: James, Brown, Terry (Upson 88), Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott (Beckham 84), Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole (Jenas 55), Rooney, Heskey. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Johnson, Downing, Defoe. Booked: Heskey. Goals: Walcott 26, 59, Rooney 63, Walcott 82. Att: 35,000. Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: England's Theo Walcott 9.10 (on 90 minutes). Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Walcott feat a one-off - Wenger Walcott feat a one-off - Wenger Walcott is the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has warned England fans not to expect Theo Walcott to repeat his "exceptional" exploits. Walcott, 19, became the youngest England player to score a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Croatia in Zagreb. "What happened you have to consider to be an exception," Wenger said. "Even for players of 25, 26, to score three goals in an international is a one-off. "But what is very good is that he has the confidence of [Fabio] Capello and he is playing at that level at 19." And Wenger believes there is more to come from the former Southampton player after Wednesday's stunning display. "For me, it's important he continues to develop as a team player," he said. "He's become more of a man, and become more mature in his play. He's developed his link play, his first touch, his commitment and that's normal from 17 to 19.

Arsene Wenger on Walcott's hat-trick "There's still a lot to come. From 19 to 23, you become a real man - at 19 you're still a boy." Asked how good he thought Walcott could become, Wenger replied: "Don't set any limitations on any human being. Once you have talent, the rest is down to how much you want it and how intelligent you are. "I believe he is hungry in a quiet way, with quiet determination. I believe he is intelligent so you can be optimistic." Wenger said he was heartened by Walcott's measured reaction after the World Cup qualifier. "That shows he is clever, well-balanced, feet on earth," he said. "Straight away after the game he analysed the consequences of what happened to him. That is more important for his career than the three goals he scored - that shows a great sign of intelligence and maturity." Wenger brought the then 16-year-old Walcott to Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006 for an initial fee of ï¿½5m, rising to about ï¿½12.5m.

He made only 14 league starts in his first two seasons at the Gunners but became England's youngest player, eclipsing Wayne Rooney, when he made his debut as a substitute against Hungary in May 2006 aged just 17 years and 75 days. He then earned a shock call-up to England's World Cup squad that summer, although he did not make an appearance in the finals. Now, two years on, the potential that persuaded then England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson to take him to Germany is starting to be realised. Interview: Theo Walcott "I am not surprised because he is a player who has got timing with his runs and he is a clinical finisher who can score goals," Wenger added. "I always believed he will be a fantastic player." Walcott had to wait until the June 2008 friendly against Trinidad and Tobago before Fabio Capello awarded him his second cap, and then handed him starts against both Andorra and Croatia. And former England winger John Barnes has cautioned against piling too much pressure on the Gunners forward after his hat-trick. "He's a great player but let's not get carried away," Barnes told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The last time we did this, when he got selected for the World Cup, his career halted for 18 months to two years - let's allow him to develop." Barnes, who won 79 caps for England, suggested the emergence of a number of young contenders, including Walcott, means it is time to draw the curtain on former captain David Beckham's international career. 606: DEBATE Wenger has clearly done a very good job of ensuring the lad doesn't get carried away with himself SI "If you look at what David Bentley's done, and Shaun Wright-Phillips is coming back into form, the right-hand side looks very good," Barnes added. "David (Beckham), from the point of view of a dead-ball specialist, is fine, but if you look at the last 10 years, that hasn't worked, so why's it going to work now? "It was a brave move (selecting Walcott) but we do have to look for other things. It gives us an extra dimension because we've got lots of pace, and defenders hate pace, so it's fantastic. "Shaun Wright-Phillips is someone who can do that as well.

So the future looks good." Bookmark with: England's Goalscorers - Hattricks and more The Forty-Seven Post-War Hat-tricks Scored by England 1946-47 28 September 1946, 7-2 vs. Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast Wilf Mannion scores three goals and England's first hat-trick in England's first official match following World War II. 27 November 1946, 8-2 vs. Netherlands, Leeds Road, Huddersfield Tommy Lawton scores four goals. 25 May 1947, 10-0 vs. Portugal, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa Stan Mortensen scores four goals. 25 May 1947, 10-0 vs. Portugal, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa Tommy Lawton scores a second hat-trick of the day, his second for England, when he scores four goals. 1947-48 19 November 1947, 4-2 vs. Sweden, Arsenal Stadium, Highbury Stan Mortensen scores his second hat-trick for England by scoring three goals.

1948-49 9 October 1948, 6-2 vs. Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast Stan Mortensen scores his third hat-trick for England by scoring three goals. 1949-50 15 October 1949, 4-1 vs. Wales, Ninian Park, Cardiff Jackie Milburn's three goals is the first ever England World Cup qualification hat-trick. 16 November 1949, 9-2 vs. Ireland, Maine Road, Manchester Jack Rowley scores four goals. It is the 18th hat-trick scored against Ireland. 14 May 1950, 5-3 vs. Portugal, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa Tom Finney scores four of England's five goals, two of them were penalty-kicks. 1954-55 10 November 1954, 3-2 vs. Wales, Empire Stadium, Wembley Roy Bentley's three goals is the first ever England hat-trick at The Empire Stadium. It is also the first time where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England victory.

2 April 1955, 7-2 vs. Scotland, Empire Stadium, Wembley Dennis Wilshaw scores four goals. 1956-57 5 December 1956, 5-2 vs. Denmark, Molineux, Wolverhampton Tommy Taylor scores three of England's five goals. 8 May 1957, 5-1 vs. Republic of Ireland, Empire Stadium, Wembley Tommy Taylor scores his second England hat-trick when he scores three of England's five goals. 1958-59 22 October 1958, 5-0 vs. USSR, Empire Stadium, Wembley Johnny Haynes scores three of England's five goals. 28 May 1959, 8-1 vs. USA, Wrigley Field, Los Angeles Bobby Charlton scores three goals, one of them a penalty-kick. 1960-61 19 October 1960, 9-0 vs. Luxembourg, Stade Municipal, Stad Lëtzebuerg Bobby Charlton scores his second England hat-trick when he scores three goals.

19 October 1960, 9-0 vs. Luxembourg, Stade Municipal, Stad Lëtzebuerg Jimmy Greaves scores the second hat-trick of the match when he scores three goals. 15 April 1961, 9-3 vs. Scotland, Empire Stadium, Wembley Jimmy Greaves scores his second England hat-trick when he scores three goals. 10 May 1961, 8-0 vs. Mexico, Empire Stadium, Wembley Bobby Charlton scores his third England hat-trick when he scores three goals. 1961-62 20 May 1962, 4-0 vs. Peru, Éstadio Nacional, Lima Jimmy Greaves scores his third England hat-trick when he scores three of England's four goals. 1962-63 5 June 1963, 8-1 vs. Switzerland, Sankt-Jakob Stadium, Basel Bobby Charlton scores his fourth England hat-trick when he scores three goals. 1963-64 20 November 1963, 8-3 vs.

Northern Ireland, Empire Stadium, Wembley Jimmy Greaves scores his fourth England hat-trick when he scores four of England's eight goals. 20 November 1963, 8-3 vs. Northern Ireland, Empire Stadium, Wembley Terry Paine scores a second hat-trick of the day, when he scores three goals. 17 May 1964, 4-3 vs. Portugal, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa John Byrne scores three of England's four goals. 27 May 1964, 10-0 vs. USA, Downing Stadium, New York City Roger Hunt scores four of England's ten goals. 27 May 1964, 10-0 vs. USA, Downing Stadium, New York City For the seventh and so far, final time, a second hat-trick in a match is scored, this time by the debuting Fred Pickering, who another three of England's goals. 1964-65 3 October 1964, 4-3 vs. Northern Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast Jimmy Greaves scores a record, fifth England hat-trick when he scores three of England's four goals.

1965-66 29 June 1966, 6-1 vs. Norway, Ullevål Stadion, Oslo Jimmy Greaves scores a record sixth England hat-trick when he scores four goals. 1966 World Cup Finals 30 July 1966, 4-2 vs. West Germany, Empire Stadium, Wembley For the first time, and so far, only time, there is a World Cup Final hat-trick. Geoff Hurst scores three of England's four goals. 1968-69 12 March 1969, 5-0 vs. France, Empire Stadium, Wembley Geoff Hurst scores his second hat-trick for England when he scores three of England's five goals. He has also scored the tenth hat-trick at Wembley Stadium. 1974-75 16 April 1975, 5-0 vs. Cyprus, Wembley Stadium, Wembley The only England hat-trick in the 1970's was scored by Malcolm Macdonald.

It is only the second time that the hat-trick scorer is solely responsible for the outcome of the game. That is to say, SuperMac scored all five of England's goal. It is also the first England hat-trick in a European Championship qualification match. 1982-83 15 December 1982, 9-0 vs. Luxembourg, Wembley Stadium, Wembley The first England hat-trick in 7 years is also the first scored by a black player, Luther Blissett scores three goals. 1984-85 14 November 1984, 8-0 vs. Turkey, Inönü Stadyumu, İstanbul Bryan Robson scores three goals. 1985-86 16 October 1985, 5-0 vs. Turkey, Wembley Stadium, Wembley For the first time, a hat-trick each against the same competing team in qualification stages. Gary Lineker scores three goals. 1986 World Cup Finals 11 June 1986, 3-0 vs.

Poland, Estadio Universitário, Monterrey Gary Lineker scores all three goals and earns his second England hat-trick. It is also the third time where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England victory. 1986-87 18 February 1987, 4-2 vs. Spain, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid Gary Lineker scores his third England hat-trick and scores all four goals. It is also the fourth time where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England victory. 1987-88 14 October 1987, 8-0 vs. Turkey, Wembley Stadium, Wembley Gary Lineker scores his fourth England hat-trick when he scores three goals. 1990-91 12 June 1991, 4-2 vs. Malaysia, Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpar Gary Lineker scores his fifth and final England hat-trick when he scores all four goals. It is also the fifth time (Lineker's third) where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England victory.

Lineker is also now the oldest player to score an England hat-trick, aged 30 years and 194 days. 1992-93 17 February 1993, 6-0 vs. San Marino, Wembley Stadium, Wembley David Platt scores four goals and missed a penalty-kick. 1993-94 17 November 1993, 7-1 vs. San Marino, Stadio Renato Dall' Ara, Bologna For the second time, a hat-trick each against the same competing team in qualification stages. Ian Wright scores four goals. 1998-99 27 March 1999, 3-0 vs. Poland, Wembley Stadium, Wembley Paul Scholes scores all three goals. It is also the sixth time where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England victory. 1999-2000 4 September 1999, 6-0 vs. Luxembourg, Wembley Stadium, Wembley Alan Shearer scores three goals, including a penalty-kick.

2001-02 1 September 2001, 5-1 vs. Germany, Olympiastadion, München Michael Owen scores three goals. 2004-05 31 May 2005, 3-2 vs. Colombia, Giants Stadium, New Jersey Michael Owen scores his second hat-trick when he scores all three goals. He is the first foreign-based player (Real Madrid) to score an England hat-trick. It is also the seventh time where the hat-trick has solely been responsible for the England win. 2005-06 3 June 2006, 6-1 vs. Jamaica, Old Trafford, Manchester Peter Crouch scores three goals and missed a penalty kick. The first hat-trick in England, not at Wembley, for fifty years. 2008-09 10 September 2008, 5-1 vs.

Croatia, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Theo Walcott scores three goals, and becomes the youngest England player to ever score a hat-trick (19 years, 177 days), breaking a 125-year record (see Mitchell, 1883). 2010-11 David Beckham bows to the wonder of Theo Walcott | Football | The Guardian Close This article is 8 years old David Beckham has conceded publicly for the first time that he can no longer consider himself anything other than a squad player within the England set-up and having witnessed Theo Walcott's display on Wednesday, the former captain recognises events in Croatia as a changing of the guard. Walcott, wearing the No7 shirt Beckham made his own, became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England as he ran riot against opponents ranked fifth in the world. The 19-year-old's style, all fleet-footed pace and trickery, is the polar opposite of Beckham's, yet Walcott has admitted to having idolised the LA Galaxy midfielder and it was the veteran, 14 years his senior, who replaced him late on in Zagreb to earn his 105th cap.

The role as an impact substitute could well prove Beckham's best route to swelling that haul under Fabio Capello. "I'm pleased for Theo and the team, and I am happy to be here with the squad, but I don't expect to play in every game any more," said the former captain. "That's the way it is now. I was happy to get on in both games [Andorra and Croatia] and would have liked to have played more, but it's all about the team and the squad, and qualifying for the World Cup . I really don't care if I play or not. I'm just happy with the way they played and with the six points from the two games. The biggest thing is England winning and qualifying. "Theo had proved himself before this game with Arsenal. The speed he has is incredible and I have never played with a faster player. It doesn't matter about his age. Of course you need experience, but we have that with other players and Theo has played in some big games for Arsenal. If he plays like that and scores like he did, as well as creating the chances he does, he will frighten opponents. He'll put any defender to shame. He is a level-headed lad and won't get carried away.

He's at the right club with the right manager and everyone knows Arsène Wenger looks after his players. I'd just tell him to enjoy it." Beckham's career has encompassed 12 years with the national team. At 33 the midfielder retains his threat from dead-ball situations, though it is only upon his experience that England may choose to lean from now on. Walcott represents the future. England have lacked raw pace in recent times, though Capello first decided he would use Walcott against Croatia after attending their Euro 2008 quarter-final against Turkey as a pundit for Italian television, and in which Slaven Bilic's full-backs appeared vulnerable. On Wednesday Danijel Pranjic and the left-sided centre-half Josip Simunic were exposed by Walcott's searing pace. The winger's second and third goals were scored when Croatia were depleted after Robert Kovac's dismissal, though this remained a staggering performance to reaffirm the teenager as the national team's biggest hope.

Wayne Rooney, whose excellent display earned him a first international goal in 11 months and saw him play a part in each of Walcott's goals, was the last bright young thing saddled with that pressure and he is anxious the teenager is not overburdened by expectations. "Many times players get made out to be the saviour of English football," Rooney, now 22, said. "From when he got into the World Cup squad two years ago without playing a Premier League game, so much was expected of him. "He's had a couple of years now to get ready but we've got to keep working as a team and, hopefully, then we can help him. That would be great because he can help us win trophies. "He gives a different dimension to the team with his pace out wide and it keeps the defenders on the back foot. I've not seen anyone as quick as him. He's something different to what we've had for the past four years because he's got frightening pace, likes to run behind defenders and keeps them on the back foot. That probably frees it up in the middle for players like myself and the other strikers to get opportunities. "He's a nice lad, too.

He's got his feet on the ground, speaks well and handles himself well." Theo Walcott Sports Photos, News, Bio & Ratings - AskMen Theo's quick attacking style of play makes him an attractive proposition for the ladies. Success Theo Walcott Biography theo walcott joins southampton In the 2004-05 season Theo Walcott featured in the team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup. He became the youngest person to play in the Southampton reserve team aged just 15 years and 175 days. theo walcott moves to arsenal theo walcott goes to the world cup 0 Sven Goran Erikkson theo walcott goes to the world cup On 30 May 2006 Theo Walcott became the youngest ever player to pull on an England shirt in a full international when he appeared in a 3-1 win over Hungary in a friendly at Old Trafford. In a shock move then manger Sven Goran Erikkson ignored the claims of established Premiership goalscorers such as Jermain Defoe, Dean Ashton and Darren Bent to take Walcott to the 2006 World Cup.

Walcott did not play a single minute at the tournament despite being one of only two fully fit strikers. theo makes history with england When new England coach Steve McLaren took over from Erikkson, Walcott was given a run in the England Under-21 team, where he flourished as he became the youngest scorer for England at this level before netting two goals against Germany to seal qualification fo the Under-21 European Championships.and it was on September 6 2008 new England manager Fabio Capello handed the player his first competitive start in the tea's World Cup qualifier with Andorra. Four days later he became the youngest player ever to score a hattrick in Croatia. England: All-time football records | Sportslens Blog People David Beckham England: All-time football records England: All-time football records lewisdoe 20 January, 2013 Columns , David Beckham , England , Fabio Capello , Football Stats , Lists , Michael Owen , Sven Goran Eriksson , Wayne Rooney England is where football began with some of the same rules used in the modern game first created by the original Football Association. And since, the Three Lions have always been a power house in international football.

In tournaments, they have always been a threat to their opposition. England have won the World Cup in 1966 and their best result in European Championships came in 1968 when they beat Soviet Union in the third place play-off after losing to Yugoslavia in the semifinal. The England football crest Here are ten of the all-time greatest record of the England national football team: Biggest win You have to go back as far as 1882 to find England’s biggest win which was a 13-0 thumping of Ireland. England put 13 past Ireland again in 1899 in a 13-2 win with the next biggest win an 11-1 demolition of Austria in 1908. The youngest big win for England came in 1982 with a 9-0 victory over Luxembourg at Wembley. Worst defeat The biggest defeat that England have ever suffered is a 7-1 loss against the great Hungarians in 1954. England were also beaten 7-2 by Scotland in 1878 and they lost again to the Scots 6-1 just three years later.

A defeat to Brazil in 1964 is the most recent heavy defeat with England losing the game 5-1 before winning the World Cup just two years later. Top scorers Sir Bobby Charlton is the leading goal scorer for England in international football with 49 goals. He is closely followed by Gary Lineker who retired with 48 goals to his name. Jimmy Greaves scored 44 times for the Three Lions which is four more than Michael Owen’s 40 goals. Tom Finney heads a list of three players on 30 goals. Most capped player Former goalkeeper Peter Shilton has more caps for England than any other player with 125. He also made over 1,000 Football League appearances. David Beckham is second in the list with 115 England caps, Bobby Moore finished with 108 caps, Sir Bobby Charlton had 106 caps and Billy Wright had 105 caps. Youngest player Theo Walcott holds the record for being the youngest ever player to make his full international debut for England aged 17 years and 75 days old. The Arsenal winger made his debut against Hungary on May 30, 2006.

He is also the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick for England at 19 years and 178 days of age – he scored three against Croatia on September 10, 2008. England’s 1966 World Cup triumph Longest serving manager Walter Winterbottom holds the record for being England’s longest serving manager as he coached the side for sixteen years between 1946 and 1962. Sir Alf Ramsey is second on the list with twelve years between 1962 and 1974 as the England boss with Sir Bobby Robson third on the list with a reign of eight years between 1982 and 1990 which ended with World Cup semi-final defeat in his final year. Foreign coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson became the first non-English manager of the England national team when he was appointed in 2001. He guided England to many memorable wins including a 5-1 victory away in Germany during his five years as manager. Fabio Capello became the second foreign coach of England when he took over in 2008.

Penalty shoot-outs England have lost more penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA World Cup than any other nation. England have lost three shoot-outs in total and have a reputation for being ‘bottlers’ when it comes to deciding matches at big tournaments via the spot kick method. Red cards Alan Mullery was the first ever player to be sent off for England in an international match. Mullery was sent off during the 1968 European Championship semi-final defeat against Yugoslavia. David Beckham and Wayne Rooney share the record for most red cards for England with two each. Shortest & tallest The tallest player to ever play for England is Stoke City striker Peter Crouch at six feet seven inches tall. The shortest player to ever play for England was Fanny Walden, a Tottenham winger who was just five feet two inches tall when he made his full England debut. Theo Walcott Theo Walcott Theo Walcott When the name of Theo Walcott was included in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup, shock waves ran through the football world. But no one was more surprised than Theo himself. Five years later, Theo Walcott is one of the most recognizable names in football.

As the English heart of the brilliant young Arsenal team, he has become a firm favourite at the Emirates Stadium. He represents everything that is good about the beautiful game: a player with his feet on the ground, but lightning quick on the field. He carries the expectations of the nation on his shoulders, especially since one night in Croatia made him the youngest player in history to score a hat-trick for England. It has been an incredible adventure, an unbelievable story for a quiet boy from a small village who only started playing football when he was 10. But how does it feel for your dreams to come true? In Theo: Growing Up Fast, Theo Walcott takes you right inside his world. Melanie Slade : Me and Theo Walcott are the prefect match | Express Yourself | Comment | Daily Express VIDS Melanie Slade : Me and Theo Walcott are the prefect match MELANIE Slade is not your typical WAG. She is a down-to-earth student with a modest taste in motors and she couldn’t be happier with her superstar boyfriend Theo Walcott.

00:00, Wed, Jan 27, 2010 Melanie is studying to become a physiotherapist and has no interest in being a WAG [] Melanie Slade doesn’t want fame – or even think she deserves it. “Pop stars or footballers have a reason to be celebrated, but I don’t,” says the 21-year-old girlfriend of England and Arsenal star Theo Walcott . “I have no interest in being famous just for the sake of it.” Since the couple met four years ago (she was working in a shop when he gave her his number) Theo has risen from playing for lowly Southampton to being one of the world’s best-known footballers, earning a reported £3 million a year. In 2006, at just 17, he became the youngest ever player for England, and in September 2008, the youngest to score a hat-trick for England (against Croatia). These record-breaking feats rocketed him to superstardom – and took Melanie up there, too.

“It’s easy to get carried away in the world of Premiership football,” says Melanie, chatting in Theo’s Hertfordshire home, where she’s waiting for him to return from Arsenal’s training ground. “But both my family and Theo’s are really grounded. They wouldn’t let us get full of ourselves.” Her father, John, is boss of a PR company and was mayor of Southampton in 2006, while her mother, Sheila, is a teacher. One of four siblings, Melanie says she’s very close to her sisters, Sarah, 24, and Emma, 22, and 26-year-old brother Steven. While technically a “WAG”, Melanie is clearly uncomfortable with the tag. And to be fair to her, she’s far from a natural fit for the term. “Just because I started dating Theo, it didn’t mean I was going to go shopping for the rest of my life,” says Melanie, who is studying for a physiotherapy degree at St George’s, University of London. “It’s never been on my agenda to quit my studies and move in with Theo. It’s important to have something to fall back on.

I study hard at uni and wear jeans and trainers there just like everyone else – and I am treated just the same, which is exactly how it should be.” In fact, Melanie’s so conscious of fitting in with her fellow students that she rejected her recent 21st birthday present from Theo – a £140,000 Ferrari. Apparently, she felt too conspicuous driving the luxurious car, preferring to stick with her far-less-flashy white VW Beetle. Melanie currently shares a flat in Merton, south London, with her sister Sarah, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the age of 17. Fortunately Sarah recovered, but her stay in hospital would change the course of Melanie’s life. “I saw physios helping Sarah move and noticed how important it was to her recovery,” she recalls. “I’d love to help people in the same way.” These days, she is an active supporter of Cancer Research UK and is often seen on the charity’s sponsored runs. And thanks to her sporty image, Melanie’s also the face for outdoor clothing company Helly Hansen, promoting its new range and the opening of its first UK shop in Manchester last year. Speaking to her, you get the sense that she inhabits two very distinct worlds.

She can spend all day studying, then go to Wembley in the evening to watch her boyfriend at work, before going to swanky players’ parties where she’ll mingle with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. She describes Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger as “very polite and proper, a real gentleman”, while England manager Fabio Capello “has a real sense of awe about him. You really know he’s the boss.” Of course, she’s met all the big-name players –Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen – and been to the Beckhams’ for dinner. And she has nothing but praise for her fellow WAGs. “They’re all fine and not shopaholics like they’re portrayed,” she says. “Cheryl Cole has been really helpful and Victoria Beckham has been very supportive, especially when Theo was picked for the 2006 World Cup and I suddenly found myself in the spotlight. We spoke about how she and David manage all the attention. She told me it was essential to keep some things personal.” Of all his Arsenal team-mates, Melanie says they are closest to Gaël Clichy and his partner, Charlene Suric. “We’ll go to restaurants and bars, usually down-to-earth places.

I’m lucky as Theo isn’t bothered about nightclubs.” Family, it seems, is the most important thing to the footballer – and it’s the same for Melanie. So does she envisage having one of her own sometime soon? “I’d really love to, but only after I’ve established myself as a physio,” she says. “We’re really happy together, but I’ve got some serious studying to do, so having a wedding to organise as well would be really difficult. We’ll wait until after I’ve graduated.” Until then, it’ll be business as usual for the grounded couple. “Theo’s a chilled-out person who takes everything in his stride,” says Melanie. “When he comes back from training or a match we have a cuppa and a chat. He’s not some international star, he’s Theo my boyfriend. I think we’re evidence that, if you want to, you can be a part of the football world and still lead a normal life.” Melanie is the face of Helly Hansen’s new luxury lifestyle range Ask & Embla ( ). For details on Cancer Research UK, visit .

PHOTOGRAPHS: ROSE MCDONNELL / REX / HAIR AND MAKE-UP: NATALIE FOURNIER / STYLING: PAULA O’CONNOR / SHOT ON LOCATION AT HANBURY MANOR HOTEL, WARE, HERTFORDSHIRE (01920 487722, WWW.MARRIOTT.CO.UK )

Question: Who became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England versus Croatia in September 2008?
Answer: THEO WALCOTT